Wolverton Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who made the decision to reduce the funding available for the upgrade of Wolverton Station from £2 million to £400,000.

Tom Harris: The award of financial support to Milton Keynes council, under the Community Infrastructure Fund (GIF) was not specific as to the division between the amounts for Milton Keynes Central and Wolverton stations. This was for the local authority to determine, in agreement with Network Rail.

Wolverton Station: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider extending the deadline of 31 March 2008 for the use of the grant for the upgrade of Wolverton Station.

Tom Harris: No. One of the specific conditions attached to the award of financial support from the Community Infrastructure Fund (GIF) was that such assistance must be used by 31 March 2008. This has been consistently made clear throughout the whole process and has been accepted by Milton Keynes council.

Greyhounds

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he is taking to stop greyhounds being killed or abandoned when their use as sporting dogs is over.

Ben Bradshaw: The is no law to prevent the humane euthanasia of a greyhound when its racing career has finished.
	The Animal Welfare Act strengthened the law on the abandonment of animals by introducing an offence of failing to provide for the welfare needs of an animal. This applies to owners and keepers of all animals, including racing and retired greyhounds.
	The Act also allows regulations to be made to promote the welfare of animals for which a person is responsible. The Government are committed to introducing new regulations to protect the welfare of racing greyhounds. We understand that the industry is making significant steps in improving the number of greyhounds which are re-homed, although more needs to be done. We would like more action to taken by the industry to ensure that the number of dogs used in racing matches the number that can be re-homed at the end of their career.

Sugar Beet

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which countries refuse to import UK beet.

Barry Gardiner: We are currently able to export UK beef to EU member states and Barbados. My Department is working closely with the UK industry to identify priority non-EU export markets. DEFRA, with the support of Foreign and Commonwealth Office overseas posts, is negotiating the health conditions under which UK beef may be exported to these priority non-EU markets.

Rendition

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates since 1 July 2006 the aircraft with the registration HZ-124 has landed at RAF Brize Norton; on what basis this aircraft is allowed to use RAF Brize Norton; and what fees have been paid to his Department by the owners of the aircraft HZ-124 for the use of RAF Brize Norton since 1 July 2006.

Des Browne: holding answer 17 May 2007
	Since 1 July 2006, aircraft HZ 124 has landed 14 times at RAF Brize Norton. The aircraft operated in accordance with the MOD regulations for civil aircraft use of military airfields. The regulations also cover the applicability and level of landing, housing, parking and insurance administration charges. The regulations have been adhered to for each flight.

Investment Policy

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what steps the Church Commissioners are taking to ensure the best possible return on their investment portfolio.

Stuart Bell: In order to achieve the best possible total return—within acceptable levels of risk and in line with our ethical investment policy—we maintain a well diversified investment portfolio and regularly review asset allocation. Our fund's performance was in the top 2 per cent. of UK pension funds over the last 10 years according to independent performance measurement statistics.

Parliamentary Education Service

Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will take steps to increase the take-up by schools and other educational institutions outside London and the South East of opportunities to visit Parliament and use facilities offered by the Parliamentary Education Service.

Nick Harvey: The Administration Committee recommended in its recent report. Improving Facilities for Educational Visitors to Parliament(1), that the House of Commons Commission, working closely with the appropriate bodies in the House of Lords, should consider the case for subsidising school visits to Westminster from more remote constituencies. The Group on Information for the Public will be presenting proposals for consideration by the Commission later in the year.
	The Parliamentary Education Service is currently expanding its educational visits programme to offer more places to schools throughout the year and can also provide, on request, educational sessions for young people visiting Parliament in Members' groups. In addition, the Education Service is developing services aimed at schools that are unable to visit Westminster, for whatever reason, including a range of educational publications, teaching resources, films and a dedicated website. The two outreach officers, appointed in September 2005, have so far visited 50 local education authorities and provided training sessions for over 300 teachers and educational sessions for over 1,000 young people away from Westminster.
	(1) HC 434 2006-07.

Anzac Landings: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with  (a) Australia and  (b) New Zealand on Anzac Day.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not held any recent discussions with Australia and New Zealand regarding Anzac Day.
	The New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade attended the Anzac ceremonies in London in April 2006 and had discussions with my right hon. Friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr. Straw). These covered both Anzac Day and the New Zealand War memorial in Hyde Park which was opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 11 November last year.

Australia: Climate Change

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Australian government on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed climate change and greenhouse gas emissions with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer at the first Australia/UK Ministerial Meeting held at Lancaster House on 18 December 2006. We continue to have regular dialogue with Australia on climate change issues. Most recently, Sir Nicholas Stern spoke about climate change with Australian Prime Minister John Howard during his visit to Canberra in March.

Australia: Festivals and Special Occasions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation there is of HM the Queen at the ceremonies held to mark each public holiday, national day and ceremonial day in  (a) Australia and  (b) New Zealand.

Ian McCartney: Her Majesty The Queen is represented at all appropriate occasions by the Governors-General of Australia and New Zealand respectively, acting on the advice of those countries' governments.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the level of capability achieved by Iran in the production of fissile material which could be used in a nuclear weapon; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the likely date at which Iran will reach its stated goal of installing and operating 3,000 centrifuge machines at its enrichment facility in Natanz;
	(3)  what assessment has been made of the stage reached by Iran in the installation of centrifuges at its enrichment facility in Natanz;
	(4)  what is the latest assessment that has been made of the progress by Iran towards the mastery of uranium enrichment technology;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2007,  Official Report, column 837W, on Iran: nuclear weapons, what definition she uses of mastery of enrichment technology; and what  (a) level and  (b) scale of (i) centrifuge operation and (ii) enriched uranium production is referred to.

Ian McCartney: Iran is defying calls by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, made mandatory by the UN Security Council, to suspend all uranium enrichment-related, reprocessing and heavy water-related activities. These activities are of proliferation concern because they would enable Iran to develop the capability to produce fissile material that could be used in nuclear weapons.
	Iran has produced very small quantities of enriched uranium at its pilot fuel enrichment plant at Natanz and is now installing centrifuges in the Fuel Enrichment Plant. The IAEA reported on 22 February that,
	"During meetings in Iran in January 2007, Iran informed the Agency of its plan to....continue progressively with the installation of the 18 cascades of the 3,000-machine hall and to bring them gradually into operation by May 2007".
	Most recently, in a letter to the Iranian representative to the IAEA on 18 April, the IAEA reported the information Iran had provided to inspectors that
	"Iran has put into operation eight cascades at the Fuel Enrichment Plant in Natanz and that some UF6 is being fed into those cascades".
	We now await the Director-General of the IAEA, Mohamed El Baradei's, official report on Iran's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747 which will give a further update of Iranian progress at the Fuel Enrichment Plant, which is due on 23 May.
	Enriching uranium is a complex technical process which requires diagnostic testing and the running of multiple cascades over a sustained period. It remains our assessment that Iran has not mastered the process.
	We will consider next steps in light of the Director-General's upcoming report on compliance with UNSCR 1747. UNSCRs 1696, 1737 and 1747 make it mandatory that Iran suspends its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities before negotiations aimed at a long-term agreement can commence. We remain committed to a negotiated solution. We continue to urge Iran to take the steps required by the Security Council and IAEA Board, and to return to talks on the basis of the proposals presented to Iran on 6 June 2006 by EU High Representative Javier Solana on behalf of the 'E3+3'.

Vietnam: Human Rights

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Vietnam.

Ian McCartney: We are concerned at the recent arrest and sentencing of several peaceful human rights offenders in Vietnam who have been charged with "conducting propaganda". We, along with our EU partners, have made numerous representations to the Vietnamese authorities on this issue.
	Most recently, on 15 May, the EU issued a statement expressing its concern about the current situation and calling on the Vietnamese Government to release all non-violent political activists who have simply exercised their rights to freedom of expression and association.
	I raised our concerns about the arrest and detention of human rights activists with the Vietnamese Vice-Minister Le Cung Phung during the EU/Association of South East Asian Nations ministerial meeting in Nuremburg on 14-15 March. I also raised this issue with the Vietnamese ambassador on 10 May.
	We will continue to raise the question of human rights defenders, along with other human rights issues, with the Vietnamese Government, including during the EU's Human Rights Dialogue with the Vietnamese Government.

Buildings: Climate Change

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she is taking to ensure that the  (a) Code For Sustainable Homes And  (B) Building Regulations take account of the effects of climate change on buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The building regulations and the code for sustainable homes are both key components of the Government's strategy tackling climate change and its effects.
	The amendments made in 2006 to Part L of the Building Regulations have, for example, increased the energy performance standards for new buildings by around 40 per cent. compared to pre-2002 levels. We have also recently consulted on making all new homes zero carbon by 2016 through further changes to Part L. These actions, together with the Code for Sustainable Homes and the draft planning policy statement on climate change—should save between five and seven million tonnes of carbon by 2020. Further details on the Department's climate change policy can be found at www.communities.gov.uk.
	Building to the standards set out in the Code for Sustainable Homes will help new homes mitigate for many of the effects associated with climate change including possible water shortages, increased rainfall and flooding. Building Regulations already help address many of the impacts of climate change and will be kept under review as necessary to ensure that they continue to do so effectively.
	We are also working closely with stakeholders on what could be done to further reduce the impact of non-domestic new buildings and existing buildings on climate change.

Council Housing: Property Transfer

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost of council housing debt write off for large scale voluntary transfers for each of the last six years; and what estimate she has made for 2007-08.

Yvette Cooper: If a local authority's attributable housing debt is not cleared either in part or in entirety by receipts from an RSL through large scale voluntary transfer arrangements, the debt that remains is transferred from the local authority sector to central Government through a payment made to the Public Works Loan Board. Overhanging debt payments to the Public Works Loans Board under these debt transfer arrangements over the last six years are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2000-01 276 
			 2001-02 0 
			 2002-03 548 
			 2003-04 91 
			 2004-05 591 
			 2005-06 386 
			 Total 1,892 
		
	
	In 2006-07 we expect overhanging debt transactions with the PWLB to total about £600 million.
	The extent of overhanging debt transferred to the central Government sector in 2007-08 is dependent on positive tenant ballots, and the completion of transfer transactions up to 31 March 2008. It is too early to estimate what these might be.

Council Tax

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Government have plans to enable local authorities to give a discount to council tax payers who pay their annual charge upfront as a lump sum.

Phil Woolas: Local authorities already have powers under Section 13a of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to offer a local council tax discount. However, this power is discretionary and it is for the local authority to decide how to use it.

Departments: Consultants

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was spent on consultants as a result of the Housing Market Renewal scheme in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: Figures on expenditure on external advice including consultancy are not held centrally. The pathfinders decide on how to spend their budgets including how much to spend through staff they employ directly and how much to spend through external contracts depending on the skills required. External contracts included masterplanning and feasibility studies (approximately 40 per cent. of the overall spend), research and housing market intelligence studies (approximately 20 per cent.), and community engagement and consultation (approximately 10 per cent.). The total Housing Market Renewal Fund spend over the five year period was £888 million. The table includes the amount the pathfinders estimate has been spent on such external contracts.
	
		
			  Financial year  Estimated HMRF external contracts (£ million) 
			 2002-03 0.46 
			 2003-04 4.19 
			 2004-05 12.00 
			 2005-06 14.86 
			 2006-07 11.64 
			 Total for 2002-07 43.15

Departments: Sexual Harassment

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many complaints of sexual harassment have been investigated in her Department in the last 12 months; and how many complaints have been upheld.

Angela Smith: There have been no formal complaints of sexual harassment raised in the Department for Communities and Local Government (and the predecessor Department the Office for the Deputy Prime Minister) during the last 12 months (for the period April 2006 to March 2007).

Green Roofs

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research her Department and its predecessors have sponsored into green roofs since May 1997.

Angela Smith: I am not aware of any research that the Department and its predecessor Departments have sponsored into green roofs since May 1997. However I understand that English Nature carried out studies into green roofs in 2002-03 "Green Roofs: their existing status and potential for conserving biodiversity in urban areas"—English Nature Report 498. A copy of which can be found on their website at:
	http://www.english-nature.org.uk/news/news photo/Greenroofs.pdf

Greenbelt

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition of significant her Department uses in the context of proposals for significant development in the Green Belt where the Secretary of State will consider recovery of planning appeals.

Yvette Cooper: Each case is considered on its merits.

HomeBuy Scheme

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans there are to expand the HomeBuy schemes.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 25 April 2007
	We are committed to helping 120,000 households into low cost home ownership between 2005 and 2010, an increase of 20,000 on our previous target.
	The Government's HomeBuy programme is made up of 3 schemes: New Build HomeBuy, Social HomeBuy and Open Market HomeBuy. Social and Open Market HomeBuy are both pilots which will run to March 2008. Along with New Build HomeBuy, we are planning to continue both schemes into 2008-11 and will be developing them further, building on experience of the pilots.
	On 21(st) March Government announced the launch of a Competition later this year for new and existing lenders to join in a 2008-11 round of expanded Open Market HomeBuy. Government will be looking for products which offer competitive terms and value for money as well as new and innovative mechanisms to widen the availability of shared equity products.

Housing: Parking

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the impact of planning guidelines for building new properties with one and a half car spaces on levels of congestion in neighbouring roads; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing, published last November, gives local authorities the responsibility for deciding their policies for residential car-parking, taking account of expected levels of car ownership, the importance of promoting good design, and the need to use land efficiently. The guidance in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing which advocated residential parking standards of no more than 1.5 off-street spaces per dwelling average has been cancelled.

Housing: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to stop rural de-population; what steps she is taking to encourage  (a) house building and  (b) social housing development in village communities; and what progress has been made with the Goodman Review.

Yvette Cooper: The population of rural districts grew by almost 800,000 between 1995 and 2005, and is projected to rise by another 2 million by 2029. The rate of increase in rural areas is more than double that for urban areas, which is one of the reasons we have to increase the supply of housing in rural communities.
	Following an independent review by Kate Barker in 2004, Government set a challenging ambition to increase the supply of new housing overall to at least 200,000 per annum by 2016. Good progress has already been madefrom a low of around 130,000 new homes in 2001-02, housing supply has increased to over 180,000 in 2005-06.
	Our recent Planning Policy Statement: Housing (PPS3) requires local authorities and regions to take a positive and active approach to creating sustainable rural communities; including setting housing provision figures for rural local planning authorities and housing market areas, and adopting targets for the delivery of rural affordable housing.
	PPS3 was strongly informed by the work of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission. Other issues for central Government in the Commission's report we are addressing or will consider as part of the forthcoming comprehensive spending review. Progress is detailed on the Affordable Rural Housing website managed jointly by this Department and the Department for Rural Affairs.
	www.defra.gov.uk/rural/arh/index.htm

Local Authorities: Environment Protection

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what value of fines were levied in England and Wales by local authorities with respect to offences under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	The number and value of fines relating to littering offences in England are shown in the following table.
	Under section 92 and 94 of the Environmental Protection Act, local authorities can prosecute for a maximum 2,500 fine for failure to comply with either a litter clearing notice or street litter control notice. We do not hold data on the number or value of these fines prior to 2006. From April 2006, a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) is available as an alternative to prosecution for these offences and this data will be available in July. Data relating to offences in Wales is held by the Welsh Assembly Government.
	
		
			   Littering FPNs issues  Collected () 
			 2005-06 33,033 911,813 
			 2004-05 25,326 434,869 
			 2003-02 7,565 (1) 
			 2002-03 12,820 231,547 
			 2001-02 11,652 138,840 
			 2000-01 2,247 (1) 
			 1999-2000 2,970 39,075 
			 1998-09 4,778 63,240 
			 (1) No data available.

Local Government Finance: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which grants for which her Department is responsible have been made to Westminster city council, outside the revenue support grant, in each year since 1997-98; and what the value was of each grant.

Phil Woolas: The grants made to Westminster city council in each year since 1997-98 by this Department, as recorded by the council in the Communities and Local Government Revenue returns, are as follows (all figures in 000s):
	
		
			  Grants  000 
			  1997-98 Nil 
			   
			  1998-99  
			 Other grants within AEF 50 
			   
			  1999-2000  
			 The Private Finance Initiative 341 
			  2000-01  
			 The Private Finance Initiative 524 
			 Other grants within AEF 1,014 
			   
			  2001-02  
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 749 
			 The Private Finance Initiative 504 
			 Other grants within AEF 2,002 
			   
			  2002-03  
			 Supporting People Implementation Grant 313 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1,123 
			 The Private Finance Initiative 491 
			 Other grants within AEF 690 
			   
			  2003-04  
			 Local Public Service Agreement Performance Reward 36 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1,779 
			 Planning Delivery 51 
			 The Private Finance Initiative 472 
			 Supporting People Administration 344 
			 Supporting People Programme 18,193 
			 Other 6,791 
			   
			  2004-05  
			 Homelessness Strategies 6,896 
			 Local Public Service Agreement Performance Reward 193 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1,468 
			 Neighbourhood Wardens 256 
			 Planning Development 426 
			 Supporting People Administration 336 
			 Supporting People ProgrammeHousing 17,787 
			 Other 2,969 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Homelessness Strategies 6,195 
			 Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme 109 
			 Local Public Service Agreement Performance Reward 61 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 1,486 
			 Planning Delivery 394 
			 Supporting People Administration 269 
			 Supporting People ProgrammeHousing 17,681 
			 Other grants within AEF 3,050 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Homelessness Strategies 6,500 
			 Local Authority Business Growth Incentives scheme 1,444 
			 Local Public Service Agreement Performance Reward Grant 299 
			 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund 2,347 
			 Planning Delivery 675 
			 Supporting People Administration Grant 269 
			 Supporting People ProgrammeHousing 17,022 
			 Other grants within AEF 3,108 
		
	
	These tables set out the specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF) (i.e. revenue grants paid for councils' core services) paid to Westminster and exclude grants outside AEF such as capital grants, funding for local authorities' housing management responsibilities, European funding; or where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area. Revenue support grant and other elements of formula grant (such as redistributed business rates and police grant) have also been excluded.
	Revenue outturn data has been used from 1997-98 to 2005-06 (the last year available) and revenue account data has been used for 2006-07.
	There are a number of smaller grants included in an 'Other' category on the revenue returns submitted by local authorities. The totals of these are included above, although it is possible that there are grants from other Government Departments in this category. It is not possible to identify these separately within the return. The Private Finance Initiative grant has also been included above, although this will cover projects outside the policy responsibility of this Department.

National Mobility Scheme

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what programme she will introduce to replace the National Mobility Scheme and other initiatives designed to allow tenants to carry out mutual exchanges; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government have replaced the mutual exchange scheme, which was facilitated by Scout Solutions Projects Ltd., with a number of alternative providers offering a free of charge service. These services can be accessed via the Governments' website 'www.direct.gov.co.uk/socialhousing'. This link also provides access to information on a wide range of housing related matters and the full range of Government services. The Government are also providing funding to support the development of 26 sub-regional choice based lettings schemes and one regional choice based lettings scheme covering all London authorities. When operational these schemes should make it easier for people to move between neighbouring authorities and ultimately across regional boundaries.

Olympic Games: Greater London

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's first estimate was of the total contribution to be made from the departmental budget towards the costs of hosting the Olympic games; and what her Department's current estimate is of that cost.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the announcement made on 15 March 2007 by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, which set out in detail both the budget for the games and the background to it. A schedule has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	How the Government contribution will be funded departmentally will be determined as part of the Spending Review discussions which are currently under way

Planning: Advertising

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Town and Country Planning Control of Advertisements Regulations 2007 will be introduced in England and Wales.

Yvette Cooper: The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 came into force on 6 April. They do not apply to Wales.

Social Rented Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the revenue from the sale of council houses in  (a) Castle Point and  (b) England was reinvested in new social housing in each of the last 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: The Department does not collect data on the proportion of the sale of council houses that is reinvested in the provision of new social housing.
	In general, on disposal of a council house, for instance through the right to buy, 75 per cent. of the capital receipt comes back to Government for recycling to other areas and investment, the local authority is free to use the remaining 25 per cent. for any capital purpose it sees fitincluding the provision of new social housing. Prior to 2004- 05, local authorities that had housing attributable debt set-aside a proportion (75 per cent. for right to buy sales) of the housing capital receipt to repay their housing debt. That mechanism was replaced in 2004 with the pooling regime, which recovers a proportion (again, 75 per cent. for right to buy sales) of housing capital receipts for investment elsewhere.
	Capital investment by central Government in affordable housing for the last 10 years generally (that is, investment in, maintenance of and provision of new affordable housing) has been greater than the value of capital receipts generated by the sale of council housing nationally. Since 1997 the Government have consistently invested more in housing than has been received in receipts.
	The following table shows:
	Spend for Castle Point from 1997-98 to 2005-06 for social rent and low cost home ownership (LCHO) through Housing Corporation Affordable Housing Programme (AHP). The figures provided are for new provision through either new build, acquisition and refurbishment.
	The right to buy receipts generated by the disposal of social housing, in Castle Point and in England.
	The amount of housing receipts (including RTB sales but not limited to those, this data also includes non-RTB sales of housing assets such as bare land) that were recycled for investment, either through the set-aside regime or through the pooling of housing capital receipts, in Castle Point and in England.
	The value of capital investment in Castle Point (local authority stock investment only) and nationally.
	
		
			   million 
			   Castle Point  England 
			   RTB Receipts  Set-Aside/ Pooling  LHCO/ AHP( 1)  LA Capital Investment  RTB receipts  Set-Aside/ Pooling  Capital Investment 
			 1997-98 No data 0.62 0.41 0.07 No data 934 1,894 
			 1998-99 0.51 0.39 0.14 0.23 911 1,085 2,098 
			 1999-2000 1.18 0.89 0.37 0.35 1,374 1,477 2,173 
			 2000-01 1.04 0.78 0.35 0.59 1,793 1,626 2,866 
			 2001-02 1.27 0.99 0.37 1.25 1,566 1,382 3,312 
			 2002-03 1.09 0.86 0.02 1.45 2,210 1,857 3,598 
			 2003-04 1.26 n/a 1.17 1.44 2,936 No data 4,685 
			 2004-05 0.54 0.42 0.96 1.53 2,575 1,718 4,767 
			 2005-06 0.65 0.47 0.26 1.42 1,545 1,076 5,151 
			  Note:  Data pre-1997-98 is available only at disproportionate cost. 2005-06 is the latest year for which we have audited data. ( 1 ) Source:  Housing Corporation

2012 Olympics

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what roles and responsibilities  (a) UK Sport and  (b) the British Olympic Association have in (i) preparing for and (ii) delivering elite success at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.

Richard Caborn: UK Sport is the Government's high performance sports agency, investing both exchequer and lottery funding to prepare and support our Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes in the years leading up to each Games. It is therefore UK Sport's role to lead the development of high performance sport in this country, and to create the environment in which our sports and athletes can succeed in the build up to London 2012 and beyond.
	Through its 'no compromise' approach, resources are targeted at those sports and athletes most likely to succeed and win on the world stage. UK Sport is currently planning to invest an average of 100 million every year through to 2012, supporting around 1,500 athletes in 24 Olympic and 19 Paralympic sports. Their leadership role in terms of athlete preparation also extends to the provision of dedicated support services and the development of specialist areas such as its Elite Coach and Technology and Innovation programmes.
	To succeed in leading sport to world class success, UK Sport works in partnershipwith the other Home Country Sports Councils, the Home Country Institutes, as well as the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association.
	The role of the BOA is solely focused on delivering success at the Olympic Games themselves (with the British Paralympic Association playing a similar role at the Paralympics). It has the role of preparing Team GB for a unique competitive environment every four years and of maximising the potential of the athletes when they arrive. The BOA is responsible for selecting the athletes that comprise Team GB in conjunction with the governing bodies.
	The BOA has no role in the preparation of the athletes in the years building up to an Olympic Games, nor does it have any influence over the way in which funding is invested across the sports through UK Sport's World Class Performance Programmes.
	Operationally officials of UK Sport and BOA work together with the National Governing Bodies to ensure that there is a seamless transition between athlete preparation and Games-time preparation. It is vital for the success of our high performance operations that the work of the two organisations does not cut across or duplicate the other.

Football Clubs: Governance

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to meet the Football League authorities to discuss the governance of football clubs.

Richard Caborn: I have no current plans to meet with the Football League to discuss the governance of football clubs.
	While Governance is primarily a matter for football itself, we have been clear that the football authorities and clubs must demonstrate modern, competent governance and financial transparency if they are to protect the future integrity of the game.
	Good progress has already been made and I particularly welcome the FL's recent introduction of fit and proper person criteria for directors, and FA requirements around the long term financial stability clubs.

Cultural Heritage: Climate Change

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research her Department has conducted into the impact of climate change on the United Kingdom's heritage sites and historic environment.

David Lammy: My Department financed an UNESCO climate change expert meeting in March 2006, which produced the Strategy to Assist State Parties to Implement Appropriate Management Response, adopted at the 30th World Heritage Committee in 2006. DCMS is also looking to initiate a project, in consultation with its NDPB's, which will record and summarise their current activities to mitigate and support adaptation to climate change and produce an estimate of the Department's and the NDPBs carbon footprint.
	In 2002 English Heritage commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Heritage (CSH) to carry out a scoping study on climate change and the historic environment, published in 2005; and contributed to CSH's stakeholders dissemination and scientific research report, 'Engineering Historic Futures', published in 2007. English Heritage is currently running a series of research projects addressing separate aspects of the climate change agenda, including the assessment of the effect of coastal erosion on historic settlements.

Sports: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what resources the Government has provided to the Sport for All initiative; and what resources have been allocated for the initiative in each of the next three years

Richard Caborn: The Government are not aware of a current initiative called Sport for All. Therefore the Government have provided no resources and have no plans to provide any resources to this initiative. However, Sport for All was the equivalent of the brand name for The Sports Council before the Sport England brand was launched in 1999.

European Union: Treaties

William Cash: To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to sign a European Treaty before he leaves Office.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Europe (Mr. Hoon) gave to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 16 May 2007,  Official Report, column 779W.

Charities: Cultural Heritage

Paul Holmes: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many cultural and heritage organisations were registered as charities in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997.

Edward Miliband: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. The chief executive of the Charity Commission will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library. Charity law and regulation in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter, and is the responsibility of the relevant Parliament and Ministers.

Antidepressants

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions for anti-depressants were dispensed in the community in each year since 1997; and how many of those were dispensed to children in each year.

Caroline Flint: Anti-depressant drugs are classified under section 4.3 of the British National Formulary and the information in the table is provided on this basis. Estimated figures are based on a sample of 1 in 20 prescriptions and have been grossed up to reflect the population totals and rounded.
	
		
			   BNF 4.3 -prescription items dispensed (thousand)  Estimate of prescription items dispensed for children (thousand)  Percentage dispensed to children 
			 1997 16,822.6 88 0.5 
			 1998 18,424.5 84 0.5 
			 1999 20,108.1 83 0.4 
			 2000 22,021.8 95 0.4 
			 2001 24,342.7 110 0.5 
			 2002 26,329.3 120 0.5 
			 2003 27,658.0 110 0.4 
			 2004 28,995.5 94 0.3 
			 2005 29,389.9 110 0.4 
			 2006 31,038.0 110 0.4 
			  Source: Prescription cost analysis system.

Cancer: Waiting Lists

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing waiting times for the treatment of  (a) cancer and  (b) heart disease; and what the average waiting time is for treatment of each condition in (i) Newcastle Primary Care Trust area, (ii) North Tyneside Primary Care Trust area and (iii) England.

Rosie Winterton: Over the past year, the national health service has made excellent progress on cancer waiting times with full achievement of both the 31-day target and the 62-day target. In quarter 3, 2006-07 performance nationally against these standards was 99.6 per cent. and 96.3 per cent. respectively. For the same period, the performance of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne hospitals NHS trust against these targets was 99.6 per cent. and 96.1 per cent. respectively.
	Provisional data at 31 March 2007 indicates that 5,967 people in England were waiting for a heart operation, none of whom were waiting over three months. 136 of these were waiting for treatment at the Newcastle-upon-Tyne hospitals NHS trust.

Clostridium

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish data relating to cases of  Clostridium difficile in all those aged two years and over for each NHS trust in England; and for what reasons she does not plan to include such cases of  Clostridium difficile in the  Clostridium difficile mandatory surveillance system.

Ivan Lewis: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) publishes data regarding the mandatory surveillance scheme for  Clostridium difficile associated disease (CDAD) on its' website: www.hpa.org.uk/hpa/news/articles/press_releases/2007/070426_clostridium_mrsa.htm. The scheme began in January 2004 and up until 31 March 2007 all acute NHS trusts had to report all cases of CDAD for patients aged 65 years and over.
	Since 1 April 2007 it is mandatory for all acute NHS trusts to report all cases of CDAD in all patients aged two years and over. HPA plan to publish first quarter data (1 April-30 June 2007) on all cases of CDAD in patients aged two years and over, in October 2007.

Dental Services: West Midlands

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were employed in  (a) West Bromwich East constituency and  (b) the West Midlands region in each of the last three years.

Rosie Winterton: Numbers of national health service dentists in West Bromwich East constituency and the former Birmingham and the Black Country strategic health authority (SHA) from 31 March 1997 to 31 March 2006 are available in annex E and G of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. The report is available in the Library and online at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/primary-care/dentistry/nhs-dental-activity-and-workforce-report-england-31-march-2006
	Information on the dental work force under the new dental contractual arrangements introduced on 1 April 2006 is published every quarter by The Information Centre for health and social care. These data are not comparable with the historical data prior to this date.
	The latest data available are in annex G (number of dentists), within annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England Quarter 3:31 December 2006 report.
	Data are only available at SHA and primary care trust level. To provide these data at constituency level area would be at disproportionate cost. The report is available in the Library and online at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/webfiles/publications/dental06q3/Ouarterly%20Publication%20Q3%202006-7%20Annex%203.xls

Diamorphine

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diamorphine prescriptions were dispensed in the community in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of prescription items for diamorphine dispensed in the community in England is in the table.
	
		
			   Diamorphinenumber of prescription items (thousand) 
			 1997 116.5 
			 1998 114.6 
			 1999 105.9 
			 2000 99.3 
			 2001 95.9 
			 2002 96.0 
			 2003 98.6 
			 2004 102.9 
			 2005 60.8 
			 2006 65.6 
			  Source: Prescription Cost Analysis system

Doctors: Training

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) estimate she has made of the impact on the number of doctors being trained and  (b) assessment she has made of the impact on the training given to those who secure places of the Modernising Medical Careers programme.

Rosie Winterton: We believe there will be more doctors in training in 2007 than previously. Training will be enhanced under Modernising Medical Careers as it will provide structured programmes of training to reflect the needs of patients and the national health service.

Health Services: Asylum

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken of the denial of secondary healthcare to refused asylum seekers in the Department's report on Human Rights in HealthcareA Framework for Local Action; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The recent Department publication 'Human Rights in HealthcareA Framework for Local Action' is intended to assist national health service trusts to develop and apply human rights based approaches in their organisations in order to provide better services for everyone. It is not a source of legal advice or guidance on specific issues.

Mental Health Services: Prisons

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have received funding for dealing with prisoners with psychiatric and mental health problems; how much they have received; how they have spent the money; how many prisoner patients have received treatment as a consequence; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Mental health services have been a key part of the Government's recent reforms of health services in prisons, and the Department is now investing over 20 million a year in national health service mental health in-reach services for prisoners.
	All primary care trusts with a prison(s) in their locality receive a proportion of this funding as part of their allocation for providing healthcare services to prisoners.
	These are now 102 community mental health teams working within prisons, with some 360 extra staff employed. Since 2006, every prison in England and Wales has had access to these services. Information on how many prisoners receive these services is not collected centrally.
	This year, the Department will make an additional 4 million available to aid further improvements to mental health in-reach and child and adolescent mental health services, based on national needs assessment.

NHS: Public Appointments

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of the National Director for Health and Work's team have been appointed.

Rosie Winterton: As the National Director for Health and Work, Dame Carol Black has two staff members who provide direct support to her.
	In this role, Dame Carol also works closely with policy staff from the Department, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Health and Safety Executive involved in the Government's Health, Work and Well-being Strategy.

Nurses

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1140W, on nurses, whether she has taken steps to encourage more men to work as nurses, midwives and health visiting staff; how much has been spent advertising jobs in publications likely to reach a predominantly male audience; whether targets are in place for the recruitment of male employees; whether specific training courses are offered only to male employees; whether any jobs have been advertised under section 47(1a) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975; and if she will make a statement on the number of male nursing staff working in the national health service.

Rosie Winterton: Careers in the national health service are promoted by NHS Careers. The service consists of a telephone and email helpline, website, literature and supporting services for NHS employers, schools, colleges and careers advisors. Case studies of real life stories featured by NHS Careers show both men and women and reflect the diversity of the NHS workforce.
	Advertising jobs is a matter for local employers. However, employers are encouraged to use NHS jobs, an on-line system for advertising vacancies in the NHS, which is both cost effective and accessible. NHS jobs has 7,129 new vacancies from NHS employers across England and Wales.
	There are no targets for the recruitment of male employees; local organisations are responsible for planning and recruiting their workforce to meet health service needs of their local population. However, workforce census figures in the following table show a growing trend in the number of qualified male nurses, health visitors and midwives between 2004 and 2006.
	The Department does not collect information on specific training courses.
	
		
			  Qualified Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff - broken down by gender 2004-06 
			  Percentage 
			  2006  Male  Female  Unknown ( 1) Male ( 1) Female 
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 38,242 304,942 31,354 11.1 88.9 
			 Nurse consultant 136 654  17.2 82.8 
			 Modern matron 204 1,767 11 10.4 89.6 
			 Manager 1,303 5,707 148 18.6 81.4 
			 Registered nurseChildren 531 11,710 955 4.3 95.7 
			 Registered midwife 176 22,937 1,356 0.8 99.2 
			 Health visitor 176 11,507 351 1.5 98.5 
			 District nurse (1(st) level) 418 9,239 351 4.3 95.7 
			 District nurse (2(nd) level) 65 1,101 96 5.6 94.4 
			 School nurse 9 1,100 20 0.8 99.2 
			 Other 1(st) level(2) 34,283 229,596 26,690 13.0 87.0 
			 Other 2(nd) level(2) 921 9,279 1,375 9.0 91.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  2005  Male  Female  Unknown ( 1) Male ( 1) Female 
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 37,820 306,857 36,580 11.0 89.0 
			 Nurse consultant 118 605 1 16.3 83.7 
			 Modern matron 173 1,427 6 10.8 89.2 
			 Manager 1,365 5,639 92 19.5 80.5 
			 Registered nurseChildren 530 11,844 989 4.3 95.7 
			 Registered midwife 142 23,003 1,663 0.6 99.4 
			 Health visitor 173 12,191 454 1.4 98.6 
			 District nurse (1(st) level) 434 10,148 340 4.1 95.9 
			 District nurse (2(nd) level) 49 973 123 4.8 95.2 
			 School nurse 6 930 7 0.6 99.4 
			 Other 1(st) level(2) 33,700 229,349 28,705 12.8 87.2 
			 Other 2(nd) level(2) 1,130 10,748 1,774 9.5 90.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  2004  Male  Female  Unknown ( 1) Male ( 1) Female 
			 All qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 36,573 300,042 38,756 10.9 89.1 
			 Nurse consultant 97 533 1 15.4 84.6 
			 Modern matron  
			 Manager 1,499 6,457 52 18.8 81.2 
			 Registered nurseChildren 555 12,296 873 4.3 95.7 
			 Registered midwife 100 22,830 1,914 0.4 99.6 
			 Health visitor 173 12,517 613 1.4 98.6 
			 District nurse (1(st) level) 425 10,646 664 3.8 96.2 
			 District nurse (2(nd) level) 43 944 105 4.4 95.6 
			 School nurse 1 845 10 0.1 99.9 
			 Other 1(st) level(2) 32,459 220,684 29,513 12.8 87.2 
			 Other 2(nd) level(2) 1,221 12,290 2,925 9.0 91.0 
		
	
	Qualified Nursing, midwifery and health visiting staffbroken down by gender 2004-06.
	The percentage of all qualified male nurses, health visitors and midwives has increased from 10.9 per cent. in 2004 to 11.1 per cent. in 2006.
	The number of male nurse consultants has increased from 97 in 2004 to 136 in 2006.
	The number of male registered midwives has increased from 100 in 2004 to 176 in 2006.
	The number of male 1(st) level nurses has increased from 32,459 in 2004 to 34,283 in 2006.

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust: Surgery

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust area waited more than  (a) three months,  (b) six months and  (c) a year for an NHS operation in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, data on the number and percentage of finished admission episodes for selected admission methods (valid waiting list and booked cases) for an operation by time waited grouping are shown in the following table. The data relate to treatment provided by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and is for 2005-06.
	
		
			  Time waited grouping  Number of finished admission episodes  Percentage of finished admission episodes 
			 Up to three months 33,127 82.0 
			 Over three to six months 5,777 14.3 
			 Over six months to one year 1,352 3.3 
			 Over one year 158 0.4 
			 Total 40,414 100.0 
			  Notes: 1. Admission Methods '11 Elective: from waiting list' and '12 Elective: booked' 2. OPCS4.2 main operative procedure codes between A01 and X59 3. Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed). 4. The time waited groupings are mutually exclusive. To calculate the total or percentage for e.g. those waiting over three months, the values for 'Over three to six months', 'Over six months to one year' and 'Over one year' should be added together. 5. A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 6. The main operation is the first recorded operation in the HES data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, e.g. time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation. 7. Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time waited as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical/social suspension. 8. HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care

Administration of Justice: Interpreters

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how much the Department for Constitutional Affairs spent on  (a) interpreters and  (b) translators in each of the last 10 years.

Harriet Harman: Information on how much the Department for Constitutional Affairs spent on interpreters and translators in each of the last 10 years can be provided only by gathering of information held locally. This would take longer than the time available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Employment Tribunals Service

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what plans she has to review the rules governing employment tribunals.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Ministry of Justice has no plans to review the rules governing employment tribunals. However, there may be changes to the rules consequential upon the outcome of the current review by the Department for Trade and Industry of the Dispute Resolution Regulations 2004. The Department for Trade and Industry continue to keep the rules under review on an ongoing basis.

Family Courts

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 
	(1)  how many enforcement orders under the Children and Adoption Act 2004 have been made by courts in England and Wales in each month since June 2006;
	(2)  how many contact order warning notices under section 3 of the Children and Adoption Act 2004 have been made by courts in England and Wales in each month since June 2006.

Harriet Harman: The Children and Adoption Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 21 June 2006. Both the attachment of warning notices to contact orders and the making of enforcement orders where contact orders are not complied with are dependent upon the implementation of Part 1 of the Act.
	The Government expects that provisions in Part 1 of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 in relation to family assistance orders and risk assessments will be implemented from October 2007. The Government will be making a written ministerial statement shortly outlining the timetable for implementation of the remaining provisions of Part 1 of the Act, including those relating to warning notices and enforcement orders.

National Offender Management Service: Manpower

Edward Garnier: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many offender managers employed by the National Offender Management Service are working with offenders in  (a) the community and  (b) custody; what the ratio is of offender managers to offenders in each case; and what plans she has to increase the number of offender managers in each category over the next four years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The latest published figures indicate that there are over 6,200 offender managers in post across the 42 probation areas. The total caseload is over 170,000 in the community with an additional 59,000 in custody. Most offender managers will have a mixed caseload of community and custodial cases. A detailed breakdown cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Caseload sizes vary depending upon the nature of the cases being supervised. An offender manager responsible primarily for complex, high risk cases will have a much smaller caseload than an offender manager primarily responsible for less complex, low risk cases. The range of caseload sizes within a probation area may therefore be a wide one, perhaps from under twenty to over 80.
	The number of offender managers appointed is a matter for probation boards to decide from within their overall allocation of resources. Decisions have yet to be made about resource allocations to probation boards for 2008-09 onward.

Prison Service: Finance

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will make a statement on the financial performance and management of HM Prison Service during 2006-07.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The financial performance of HM Prison Service for 2006-07 will be reported in its 'Annual Report and Accounts' that are due to be laid before the House and published ahead of the summer parliamentary recess. These accounts are currently being audited by the National Audit Office; it would not therefore be appropriate to offer further comment at this point in time.

Prisoners: Mentally Ill

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice 
	(1)  how many inmates in prisons in the UK were diagnosed with a mental health problem in each of the last 15 years;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the number of inmates in prisons who have mental health problems; and what plans there are to relocate them to more appropriate facilities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not held centrally.
	A survey, 'Psychiatric morbidity among prisoners in England and Wales' (Office for National Statistics, 1998), showed that 90 per cent. of prisoners have at least one significant mental health problem, including personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse and drug dependence. A copy is available in the Library.
	Prisoners who are assessed under the Mental Health Act as being too severely mentally ill for prison are transferred to hospital. The Department and Home Office issued joint guidance in October 2005 to mental health trusts and prisons in order to improve this process. In 2006, 961 prisoners, with mental illness too severe for prison, were transferred to hospital, 33 per cent. more than in 2002.
	We are also addressing the length of waits for these transfers. A survey taken by the Department for the quarter ending December 2006, showed that 38 prisoners recommended for transfer were waiting over 12 weeks for a transfer to hospital. This situation is improving, 62 such prisoners were waiting at June 2005 and 44 at June 2006.

Prisons: Overcrowding

David Anderson: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the cost has been of Operation Safeguard.

Gerry Sutcliffe: NOMS has made payments totalling 1,432,722.87 in respect of the use Operation Safeguard in 2006-07. In addition to this there are some further invoices to be submitted by police forces and some invoices that have been submitted which are being processed.

Re-offenders: Mentally Ill

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what percentage of prisoners re-offended within three years of their release in each of the last 15 years; and what percentage of those that re-offended had been diagnosed with mental health problems in each of those years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Re-offending rates for three years following release from prison are not routinely calculated. Re-offending rates have historically been calculated over a two year period and the most recent figures for adults released from prison in England and Wales are shown in the following table.
	Two year re-offending rates of adults released from prison, based on the first quarter of each year
	
		
			   Re-offending rate (Percentage) 
			 2000 64.8 
			 2002 67.4 
			 2003 65.8 
			 2004 64.7 
		
	
	The percentage of these who suffered from a mental illness is unknown as this information is not on the Ministry of Justice's extract from Police National Computer, which is used to calculate these figures.

Supreme Court

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the estimated total cost is of establishing the new Supreme Court in the Middlesex Guildhall, including costs already incurred; and what her estimate is of the eventual cost of creating seven new courtrooms elsewhere in central London to replace those currently in the Guildhall.

Harriet Harman: The costs involved in the establishment of a new Supreme Court are subject to ongoing negotiations with our preferred bidders, Kier Group for the renovation of Middlesex Guildhall and Geoffrey Osborne (Building) for the new court rooms at Isleworth. As the Lord Chancellor stated in his written ministerial statement of 17 October 2006, we will be in a position to make a statement on costs once we have reached financial close with the respective bidders.

Departments: Internet

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for which Government websites he is responsible; how many visitors each received in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the cost  (a) was of establishing and  (b) has been of maintaining each site.

James Purnell: The following tables outline the information available about the Department of Work and Pensions website's visitor's figures and costs for site establishment and maintenance.
	Web statistics have been shown where available without incurring disproportionate costs. Statistics are only available from 2004-05.
	Production, management and maintenance of DWP websites is carried out by the Department's own in-house E-Communications team. It is not possible to quantify internal costs for each site but contracted and quantifiable costs have been included where possible. Contracted and quantifiable costs include payments to suppliers for services such as research, user testing and site builds, and payments to interim personnel.
	DWP is reviewing all its websites in line with Cabinet Office rationalisation guidance. The department is committed to website rationalisation and many of these sites will eventually close. Migration plans are currently being developed.
	Table A lists those websites operated by Department for Work and Pensions where the department is responsible for the content:
	
		
			  Website name and address   Visitors  Unique visitors  Contracted and quantifiable costs 
			 Department for Work and Pensions www.dwo.gov.uk 2006-07 8,418,356 4,378,336 8,116 
			  2005-06 6,643,210  1,954 
			  2004-05 5,299,898  101,467 
			  2003-04   0 
			  2002-03   0 
			  2001-02   48,143 
			  2000-01   152,000 (DSS) 
			 Jobcentre Plus www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk 2006-07 84,766,255 Unique ip's 34,226,575 Unique visitorspage tagging 47,201,253  
			  2005-06 49,363,9 70  17,183,0000 
			  2004-05 29,014,0 15   
			 The Pension Service www.thepensionservice.gov.uk 2006-07 3,419,414 1,749,368  
			  2005-06 1,373,990  182,000 
			  2004-05 935,152  0 
			  2003-04   186,950 
			  2002-03   188,093 
			  2001-02   237,577 
			 Child Support Agency www.csa.gov.uk 2006-07 1,587,319 760,189 0 
			  2005-06 1,388,170  31,000 
			  2004-05 1,266,743  0 
			 Directgov Disabled People and Carers Sections www.direct.gov.uk/disability 2005-06   500,000 
			 www.direct.gov.uk/carers 2004-05   750,000 
			 Directgov Over 50s Section www.direct.gov.uk/over50s 2005-06   145,553 
			 Directgov Jobseekers www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers0 
			 Age Positive 2006-07 430,511 327,650 0 
			 www.aaeoositive.aov.uk 2005-06 984,229 (10 months)   
			  2004-05 1,137,532  0 
			 Benefit Fraud Inspectorate www.bfi.gov.uk 2006-07 176,160 68,451 0 
			 Office for Disability Issues www.officefordisability.gov.uk 2006-07 93,016 30,773 46,000 
			 European Social Fund www.esf.gov.uk 2006-07 300,497 133,324 0 
			  2005-06 294,253  41,000 
			  2004-05 392,038  0 
			 Rent Service www.therentservice.gov.uk 2006-07 250,000   
		
	
	Table B lists those websites operated by the Department for Work and Pensions where the department is not responsible for the content:
	
		
			  Website name and address  Visitors (2006-07)  Unique visitors  Contracted and quantifiable costs 
			 Disability Employment Advisory Committee www.deac.org.uk 10,299 3,544 0 
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board www.dlaab.org.uk 25,719 12,747 0 
			 Employer Task Force www.employertaskforce.org.uk   The costs for this site is included in the figure for the Pension Service in Table A 
			 Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force www.emetaskforce.gov.uk   0 
			 Images of Disability www.imagesofdisability.gov.uk 51, 573 (visits) 21,171 0 
			 Independent Case Examiner www.ind-case-exam.org.uk 33,499 11,890 0 
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council www.iiac.org.uk 47,777 18,703 0 
			 National Employment Panel www.nationalemploymentpanel.gov.uk   0 
			 Pensions At Work www.pensionsatwork.org 51,294 19,011 The costs for this site is included in the figure for the Pension Service in Table A 
			 Pensions Commission www.pensionscommission.ora.uk  35,699 The costs for this site is included in the figure for the Pension Service in Table A 
			 Fair Cities www.faircities.net   0 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee www.ssac.ora.uk 31,264 9,842 0 
		
	
	The following websites have been built by DWP but are managed independently so no financial or statistical information is available:
	Health and Safety Executive
	Independent Living Funds
	Pension Protection Fund
	Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman
	Pensions Ombudsman
	Remploy
	The Pensions Regulator
	The Pensions Advisory Service
	Disability Rights Commission

Housing Benefit: Costs

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost was of housing benefit in each year since the scheme was introduced.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 18 May 2007
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure 
			   million 
			   Cash  2007-08 prices  Status of Data 
			 1988-89 3,757 6,896 Outturn 
			 1989-90 4,258 7,293 Outturn 
			 1990-91 5,106 8,109 Outturn 
			 1991-92 6,363 9,523 Outturn 
			 1992-93 7,814 11,330 Outturn 
			 1993-94 9,218 13,026 Outturn 
			 1994-95 10,104 14,065 Outturn 
			 1995-96 10,876 14,693 Outturn 
			 1996-97 11,380 14,873 Outturn 
			 1997-98 11,176 14,194 Outturn 
			 1998-99 11,065 13,705 Outturn 
			 1999-2000 11,066 13,434 Outturn 
			 2000-01 11,166 13,368 Outturn 
			 2001-02 11,589 13,552 Outturn 
			 2002-03 12,637 14,334 Outturn 
			 2003-04 12,345 13,599 Outturn 
			 2004-05 13,172 14,121 Outturn 
			 2005-06 13,947 14,678 Outturn 
			 2006-07 14,675 15,071 Estimated Outturn 
			 2007-08 15,526 15,526 Outturn 
			  Notes: All figures are consistent with the 2007 Budget report. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million pounds.   Source: DWP benefit expenditure tables (Tables 3, 3a, 4, and 4a).

Members: Correspondence

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to the letter of 26 February from the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes' constituent Mr. R Taylor of Hadley Place, Milton Keynes.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 23 April 2007
	I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 30 April 2007.